Previously I had said
that Angus McPhail was born 2 August 1812 in Shawbost, Ross
& Cromarty, Scotland to Duncan McPhail & Catherine
McPhail, having found this information in an LDS IGI file, but it appears this may not be accurate.

Angus McPhail and
Francis Xavier Vautrin did arrive
together at Fort Langley and both end up being related
through marriages of their descendants, not only to each
other but also to my family when Angus McPhail's descendent
Francis Verdier married Joseph LaFortune, as well as when
Francis Xavier's granddaughter married Joseph LaFortune's
brother Francis Xavier LaFortune. Francis Xavier LaFortune is my great
grandfather, hence making Joseph LaFortune my great uncle.

To this I can now add that Angus
was also known as Aeneas McPhail, and was born in Gearrannan,
Lewis Island, Scotland.1
Lewis is the largest of the islands in the Outer
Hebrides. His
actual date of birth at this time is not known. Oral
tradition is strong on these islands and to this day Gealic
is still in use. This would explain Angus' fluency in
the language.

Angus signed on as a
labourer for the Hudson's Bay Company in 1837. He
sailed at that time from Stromness, Scotland to York Factory
on the Prince Rupert. The following is a list of his
appointments and service while in the employ of
the Hudson's Bay Company:2

1837

Signed contract

1837-1838

General
Charges

Post:
Not yet assigned

District:
Northern Department

1837-1846

Labourer

Post: Fort Langley

District: Columbia Department

1846-1855

Dairyman

Post:
Fort Victoria

District:
Columbia Department

1855-1856

Listed under "Sundry Accounts"

District: Columbia Department

Upon completion of his
service in the Hudson's Bay Company Angus settled on the
Saanich Penninsula of Vancouver Island. Local history
has it he was the first white settler in the area. He
was to spend the remainder of his life in the area.

Angus apparently had
2- 3 wives during his lifetime and 2 daughters, Anne and
Mary, that we know of.

Anne married Alphonse
Verdier, and Mary married Frank/Francois Gravelle.3
Descendents of both these families still reside on
Vancouver Island to this day.

Angus McPhail
become related to another Fort Langley employee, Francois
Xavier Vautrin, through the marriages of their descendents.